Mizzou has 11 on Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Teams, Two Earn All-America
6/20/2018 3:54:00 PM | Football
TE Albert Okwuegbnam named second team TE; Beckner is fourth team DL
Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Teams | Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Teams
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football saw 11 standout players earn a spot on the Athlon Sports 2018 Preseason All-SEC Teams with two of those 11 – senior DT Terry Beckner, Jr. and sophomore TE Albert Okwuegbunam – earning Preseason All-America nods from the national publication. Mizzou's 11 selections are tied with Alabama for the second-most in the SEC, trailing only Georgia (13). Of the 11 selected to the preseason All-SEC teams, three were first team choices, including Beckner, Okwuegbunam and Fatony.
On the offensive side of the ball, Mizzou had six selections, including the aforementioned Okwuegbunam. Senior QB and last year's national leader in TD passes Drew Lock earned a second-team nod. He led the SEC in 10 offensive categories a year ago, including passing TDs (44), yards per attempts (10.0), yards per game (304.9), total offense (313.5) and passing efficiency (169.4).
One of Lock's fellow backfield members joined him on the list as junior Damarea Crockett earned third-team honors at running back. After rushing for 1,062 yards as a true freshman in 2016, he was on pace for another 1,000-yard year before an injury suffered in the sixth game of the year at Georgia forced him to miss the final seven games. He is averaging 6.6 yards per carry in his career and has scored 12 TDs.
After exploding onto the college football scene a year ago, senior WR Emanuel Hall earned third-team All-SEC distinction from Athlon heading into his final season of eligibility. He caught 33 passes last year and averaged an eye-catching 24.8 yards per catch with eight scores. Six of his eight scores came on passing plays of 50+ yards and his 24.8 yards per catch was the nation's second-best average.
Okwuegbunam emerged as one of the nation's top tight ends as a freshman a year ago, catching 29 passes with 11 going for touchdowns while amassing 415 yards. He was the league's second-team honoree at tight end last season and his 11 scores were the most in the SEC, and ranked 11th nationally and tops among all tight ends. His 11 TDs were also the most of any freshman in the nation. He is the league's first team All-SEC pick at TE in the preseason and a second-team All-American.
Mizzou's offensive line, which ranked fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed and ninth in fewest tackles for loss allowed last year, had two picks on the Preseason Athlon All-SEC Teams. Senior OL Paul Adams is a second-team selection and anchoring the right tackle position for the last two seasons, earning a spot as a team captain a year ago. Junior OL Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms was a fourth-team offensive lineman selection.
Beckner, Jr., highlighted Mizzou's defensive selections as a first-team choice across the defensive line. A game-changer against both the run and the pass, Beckner had his best season in a Mizzou uniform a year ago, starting all 13 games while posting career-high marks in tackles (38), tackles for loss (11.0), sacks (7.0) and QB hurries (five). He was the team's Interior Lineman of the Year award winner a year ago. He is a fourth team Preseason All-American by Athlon as well.
Senior LB Terez Hall is Mizzou's other honoree on the defensive side, earning All-SEC third-team at linebacker. Hall had a breakout junior season in 2017, finishing the season with 85 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss from his linebacking position. His leadership qualities earned him the team's outstanding underclassman leadership award at the year-end banquet.
Three specialists earned Preseason All-SEC honors from Athlon, including senior punter Corey Fatony, who was a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist last year as one of the nation's top punters. He finished the season ranked 13th nationally in punting and helped Mizzou rank 13th as a team in net punting. Junior PK Tucker McCann earned third-team honors after connecting on 14-of-16 field goals a year ago.
Junior PR Richaud Floyd earned second-team honors at punt returner. He had a pair of punt return TDs a year ago and amassed 218 yards on 11 punt returns, averaging 19.8 yards per return.
All-SEC First Team
- Sophomore TE Albert Okwuegbunam
- Senior DT Terry Beckner, Jr.
- Senior P Corey Fatony
All-SEC Second Team
- Senior QB Drew Lock
- Senior OL Paul Adams
- Junior PR Richaud Floyd
All-SEC Third Team
- Junior RB Damarea Crockett
- Senior WR Emanuel Hall
- Senior LB Terez Hall
- Junior PK Tucker McCann
All-SEC Fourth Team
- Junior OL Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms
Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium. Fans wishing to purchase season tickets can do so at MUTigers.com/FBTix or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the team on social media (@MizzouFootball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook).
